Raise the Hammer
Oil: The 75 Dollar Floor Price
If oil exploration and production spending declines from its current high rates (probably above $350 billion per year), even maintaining current global oil output will be difficult.
by Andrew McKillop
Published October 01, 2012 in Special Report: Peak Oil (5 comments)
Oil Supply and 'Peak Oil' Price Drivers
Any growth of world oil demand at even 1.5% a year for more than three or four years is impossible to satisfy, because this would create a permanent Peak Oil context.
by Andrew McKillop
Published May 03, 2012 in Special Report: Peak Oil (15 comments)
Home Run for Peak Oil
There is almost no 'forward ability' or potential for global oil demand to grow at even rates of around 1.5% a year for more than 1 or 2 years before actual physical shortage onsets.
by Andrew McKillop
Published April 23, 2012 in Special Report: Peak Oil (18 comments)
Libya's Slippery Oil Prize
Western governments (and oil companies) are eager to exploit Libya's oil reserves, while China is actually talking seriously about the reconstruction of Libya's critical infrastructure.
by Andrew McKillop
Published September 01, 2011 in Special Report: Peak Oil (1 comment)
Exploding the Myth of Nuclear Energy Security
The old-time claim that nuclear power was not only safe and clean, but also cheap and secure was never strong - and is today even weaker. The time for major energy policy change is now.
by Andrew McKillop
Published April 05, 2011 in Special Report: Peak Oil (23 comments)
The Myth of Saudi-US Mutual Dependence
The bottom line is short and bitter, like the Great Lake carved out of the Suez canal: there was never any real mutual Saudi-US dependence.
by Andrew McKillop
Published March 25, 2011 in Special Report: Peak Oil (1 comment)
We Need Better Oil Price Journalism
The public must confront and understand the forces that drive global oil markets if we are to move beyond nonsensical and counterproductive reactions to higher pump prices.
by Ryan McGreal
Published February 28, 2011 in Special Report: Peak Oil (69 comments)
Black Hole For Oil Price Policy
The 2004-2007 petro growth cycle showed that oil prices close to or above $125 a barrel can be absorbed, and these energy prices, with related non energy commodity prices, drive global growth.
by Andrew McKillop
Published December 06, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (6 comments)
Extremism and the Long Emergency
We need to consider the tendency toward anger and extremism if we want to have any hope of a peaceful stepping down of the carbon-intensive economy towards one that is more sustainable, and indeed more fair.
by Jason Allen
Published December 06, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (17 comments)
Resilience Starts in your Head
If you can cultivate the attitude of not being afraid to try/fail, you'll be miles ahead no matter what crisis strikes.
by Jason Allen
Published November 17, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (18 comments)
Rising Gas Prices and the Unnameable Cause
Today, after all the ink spilled on peak oil in the past several years, it's inexcusable for a newspaper report on high oil prices not to identify the culprit.
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 17, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (28 comments)
100 Friend Diet, Redux
In the end, this experiment has been just what we hoped it would be: An exercise in eating great food and building closer ties to where that food comes from.
by Jason Allen
Published October 13, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (31 comments)
Labour-Saving Day
Resource scarcity isn't a problem for five, ten, or fifteen years down the road. For a lot of people in Ontario, It's here now.
by Jason Allen
Published September 07, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (14 comments)
Steel, Cycling, and Steeltown
Hamilton's current industrial base will not survive the end of the automobile era. Bicycles could help save it.
by Undustrial
Published August 31, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (27 comments)
Urban Bounty
Hamilton is almost uniquely suited in terms of geography, climate, and natural soil quality to provide much of its own food within its own borders.
by Jason Allen
Published August 25, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (6 comments)
Rethinking Security In The New Nuclear Age
Who would or could "step in" during a civil war in a country with sizable nuclear facilities, involving only national participants or communities, to prevent worst-case damage to its nuclear plants ?
by Andrew McKillop
Published August 03, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (10 comments)
Industrial Graft-Vs-Host Disease and the Throw-Away Economy
Life in a post-carbon economy will be about repairing and jury-rigging our aging consumer goods; but it will also be about letting go of things that improve standard of living but not quality of life.
by Jason Allen
Published July 30, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (6 comments)
Petro-Apocalypse Revisited
OPEC's spare capacity number is a deep sea monster, like something dark and shimmering in BP's gushing seafloor well. It could be almost nothing; it might be 2 Mbd at best. The only thing people agree about is that the number is dropping.
by Andrew McKillop
Published July 11, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (33 comments)
BP and the Petro-Apocalypse
The 2010 BP disaster is also a disaster for oil apologists and cornucopians, because it finally opened the public's eyes to the extreme risk that offshore drilling really entails.
by Andrew McKillop
Published June 16, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (13 comments)
Waste More Want More
In the wake of the highly predictable, not-even-slightly-surprising BP Gulf disaster, we can ask the news media to dust off energy demand management and recycle root-and-branch energy savings from its present "don't talk about that one" status.
by Andrew McKillop
Published June 11, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (12 comments)
Amid Recovery, Peak Oil Will Rear its Head Again
If we can't close the gap between rising demand and flat supply, we will spend the next several years reliving the boom-superspike-bust cycle again and again, while our indebtedness grows steadily and our median standard of living ratchets down.
by Ryan McGreal
Published May 03, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (21 comments)
Rising Energy Transition Scale, Declining Vanity Project Credibility
All the nationalistic talk about green energy vanity projects obscures the basic bottom line that energy prices have to rise, will rise, and could rise very fast by future shock spiraling back from the fantasy future to the tormented present.
by Andrew McKillop
Published April 01, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (3 comments)
Whistle Stops and Sustainable Cities
Hamilton, with its extensive network of inner city rail lines and spurs, and proximity to an even more cost effective mode of transporting goods (marine!) is ideally suited to capitalizing on the skyrocketing cost of diesel.
by Jason Allen
Published March 26, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (31 comments)
Uncertain Future for Green Energy
When energy prices rise, consumers tend to use less of it, after a little heart-wrenching and soul-searching, and with plenty of collateral damage in the economy.
by Andrew McKillop
Published March 09, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (3 comments)
Spring Is Coming
Given the laughable incompetence of government level "strategists" piloting us erratically towards the low carbon future, the most legitimate fear is that low carbon economic crash is the likely result.
by Andrew McKillop
Published March 01, 2010 in Special Report: Peak Oil (2 comments)
COP15 Failure or Peak Oil Success
Climate change is too complicated and controversial to form the political basis for worldwide CO2 emissions cuts. The case for peak oil is much clearer and harder to dispute.
by Andrew McKillop
Published November 18, 2009 in Special Report: Peak Oil (2 comments)
The Challenging Incongruity of Cheap Oil
Expecting or wanting oil prices to be "low or moderate" is at best incongruous, and at worst naive in the current economic, financial and political context.
by Andrew McKillop
Published October 05, 2009 in Special Report: Peak Oil (3 comments)
Transition to Low Carbon Urbanism: The Energy and Economic Challenge
Under resource-constrained circumstances and in economic uncertainty, the most economically efficient, sustainable urban development options will be selected and prioritized.
by Andrew McKillop
Published September 09, 2009 in Special Report: Peak Oil (6 comments)
Rome Falls While The Sun Shines
Discussing the end of population growth is as politically incorrect as saying the simplest solution to peak oil and climate change is to use less fossil energy, starting with the most oil and fossil energy intense economies and societies.
by Andrew McKillop
Published September 01, 2009 in Special Report: Peak Oil (34 comments)
Making World Cities Sustainable
Unleashing and channeling the forces of change, after a long period of imposed, uniform and standardized economic and social choices, is a key opportunity for achieving democratic, voluntary and sustainable change.
by Andrew McKillop
Published August 15, 2009 in Special Report: Peak Oil (0 comments)
How OPEC Can Save the World Economy
Facing the double reality of resource depletion and climate change - needing a global response in which the energy exporter countries must play a leading role - makes global cooperation for Energy Transition a new obligation.
by Andrew McKillop
Published May 27, 2009 in Special Report: Peak Oil (0 comments)
Oil: No Supply Side Answer to the Coming Crisis
Rather soon, we have to find mechanisms and processes to ensure an orderly and permanent annual reduction in world oil demand at least equal to expected net loss of supply as we come out of the 'undulating plateau'.
by Andrew McKillop
Published April 06, 2009 in Special Report: Peak Oil (24 comments)
Oil Price Volatility and Economic Chaos
With a carbon tax, tougher energy efficiency regulations and incentives for innovation in energy production and conservation, we may not be too late to stay ahead of the coming permanent decline in oil production.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 08, 2009 in Special Report: Peak Oil (46 comments)
Energy crisis: Turning Point of Humanity
For this new era of energy scarcity, new economic principles are needed to maintain prosperity.
by Rudo de Ruijter
Published July 07, 2008 in Special Report: Peak Oil (9 comments)
Yes, We're in Peak Oil Today
The collapse of the sprawl land use and transportation model does not lie far in some hypothetical future, but right around the corner.
by Ryan McGreal
Published October 22, 2007 in Special Report: Peak Oil (3 comments)
The Oil Depletion Protocol: An Interview with Richard Heinberg
Richard Heinberg discusses the challenges, threats, and opportunities of a world on the brink of irreversible declines in oil production.
by Ryan McGreal
Published February 26, 2007 in Special Report: Peak Oil (12 comments)
The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook
Sustainability, permaculture, and the novel idea that living with less stuff is actually a good thing.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 10, 2007 in Special Report: Peak Oil (2 comments)
Peak Natural Gas is On the Way
How fast we arrive at Peak Gas, or a permanent decline in net total gas production and supply, will depend on how gas/oil tradeoffs are made.
by Andrew McKillop
Published December 13, 2006 in Special Report: Peak Oil (2 comments)
Peak Oil and Commodity Pricing Fundamentals
Andrew McKillop explains how peak oil and peak natural gas will affect commodity pricing.
by Andrew McKillop
Published November 23, 2006 in Special Report: Peak Oil (1 comment)
A Sensible Alternative Part 2: Toward an International Energy Transition Plan
We need international and multilateral institutions and measures to deal with the terminal crisis of cheap fossil energy.
by Andrew McKillop
Published October 06, 2006 in Special Report: Peak Oil (0 comments)
A Sensible Alternative: Toward an International Energy Transition Plan
We need international and multilateral institutions and measures to deal with the terminal crisis of cheap fossil energy. Part One of a two-part series.
by Andrew McKillop
Published September 20, 2006 in Special Report: Peak Oil (0 comments)
A Personal Peak Oil Discovery Process, Part II
Taking steps to prepare for a world of diminishing oil resources.
by John Rawlins
Published June 16, 2006 in Special Report: Peak Oil (4 comments)
A Personal Peak Oil Discovery Process, Part I
A retired nuclear physicist traces his discovery of peak oil theory.
by John Rawlins
Published May 26, 2006 in Special Report: Peak Oil (11 comments)
Peak, er, Pique Your Interest?
Peak oil is about to go mainstream. Will that make any difference?
by Ryan McGreal
Published March 18, 2006 in Special Report: Peak Oil (1 comment)
Twilight in the Desert
This tremendous book challenges readers to consider the unthinkable - the approaching day when Saudi Arabian oil production goes into decline.
by Ryan McGreal
Published March 01, 2006 in Special Report: Peak Oil (2 comments)
Petrodollar Warfare: Oil, Iraq and the Future of the Dollar
If you want to enter this year with a better understanding of the large geopolitical forces shaping such events, you could do much worse than reading this book.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 27, 2006 in Special Report: Peak Oil (6 comments)
Hurry Up and Kuwait
The earth's oil reserves just dropped by five percent. Which other countries are cooking the books?
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 27, 2006 in Special Report: Peak Oil (0 comments)
Review: The Oil Factor
The Oil Factor tried to be two movies at once: is this movie about war crimes or geopolitics?
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 10, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (0 comments)
Tweaking the Margins
It's easy to say that the status quo is not an option, but harder to consider real options that actually do challenge our conventions.
by Ryan McGreal
Published October 07, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (0 comments)
Peak Oil Report
Read the three-part Raise the Hammer special report on the implications of a global peak in oil production.
by Ryan McGreal
Published August 22, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (1 comment)
Riding Down the Curve: How Cities Can Survive the Energy Crisis (Peak Oil, Part III)
If cities don't plan for the coming energy crisis, many will not survive it.
by Ryan McGreal
Published August 22, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (4 comments)
Sidebar: Are We In Peak Oil Today?
For the first time, the global oil system has no margin for error. Any significant supply disruption will send prices skyrocketing.
by Ryan McGreal
Published August 22, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (3 comments)
Sidebar: A Strangling Embrace
China and America appear to be headed on a collision course as they both scramble to secure access to a diminishing resource on which they both depend.
by Ryan McGreal
Published August 22, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (0 comments)
Sidebar: Iran in the Crosshairs
Iran's danger to America is not its nuclear program but its plan to introduce a euro-based energy exchange.
by Ryan McGreal
Published August 22, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (5 comments)
Sidebar: Electricity Deregulation
Far from lowering prices, deregulation has introduced the worst elements of competition without any redeeming aspects.
by Ryan McGreal
Published August 22, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (0 comments)
Bridging the Gap: Alternatives to Petroleum (Peak Oil, Part II)
Oil's three unique properties, combined with its sheer abundance, mean it's unlikely any alternative, or combination of alternatives, can replace oil and allow our economy to continue its current course indefinitely.
by Ryan McGreal
Published July 01, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (6 comments)
Slippery Slope: Oil after the Global Peak (Peak Oil, Part I)
As we head into the summer driving season, it seems a good time to take stock of the issue of oil production.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 16, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (0 comments)
Mind the Gap: How to Ease Yourself Across the Oil Peak
The best way to survive this period more or less intact is to insulate yourself, as much as possible, from fluctuating energy prices.
by Ryan McGreal
Published May 16, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (0 comments)
The Long Emergency
James Howard Kunstler warns of a tougher, slower, more intensely local world in the aftermath of cheap energy.
by Ryan McGreal
Published May 16, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (3 comments)
The End of Suburbia
Short of reading a book on the subject, this movie presents as convincing a case as I have seen that the foundation for our way of life is ready to crack.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 14, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (1 comment)
Richard Heinberg: The Party's Over and Powerdown
Richard Heinberg makes a compelling but accessible case that global oil production will probably peak within the decade. More important, he has some ideas on what to do about it.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 14, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (0 comments)
Interview with Richard Heinberg
Richard Heinberg kindly agreed to an interview with Raise the Hammer on the effects peak oil production is likely to have on cities.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 14, 2005 in Special Report: Peak Oil (2 comments)
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